Bobby Abel
Robert Abel
Born: 30 November 1857, Rotherhithe, Surrey
Died: 10 December 1936, Stockwell, London
Major Teams: Surrey, England.
Known As: Bobby Abel
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Off Break
Test Debut: England v Australia at Lord's, 1st Test, 1888
Last Test: England v Australia at Manchester, 4th Test, 1902
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1890
Career Statistics:
TESTS
(career)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 13 22 2 744 132* 37.20 2 2 13 0
O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling - - - - - - - - - -
FIRST-CLASS
(career: 1881 - 1904)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 627 1007 73 33124 357* 35.46 74 145 587 0
Balls R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 14421 6314 263 24.00 6-15 3 0 54.8 2.62
- Explanations of First-Class and List A status courtesy of the ACS.
StatsGuru Filters for Bobby Abel
Profile:
The "Guv'nor" was a great crowd favourite for many years at the
Oval, where he was the one reliable bat in a strong Surrey side.
Of small stature (5'4"), and serious demeanour, he had an
unconventional technique, with a bent for cross batted
shots. "He gathers runs like blackberries everywhere he goes"
said CB Fry.
He possessed great patience, but generally scored quickly, driving and
cutting well, but particularly adept at forcing the ball off his legs.
An excellent slip fielder, he also bowled off-spin with considerable skill,
but was rarely used in a strong Surrey attack.
Patient, determined, and hard working, he overcame
humble origins, and a long and difficult apprenticeship to score
many runs for his native county, and for England. At times he
seemed uncomfortable against fast bowling, particularly in his
later years when his eyesight began to fail. On his second visit
to Australia his remarkable 132* was the first instance of a
English player carrying his bat though an innings in Test cricket. His
357 in 1899 was the highest score at the Oval until surpassed by
Hutton in 1938 (also the highest score by a player carrying his bat,
and the 811 scored whilst he was at the wicket also remains a record). A good slip fielder, and a useful slow bowler,
two of his sons also played for Surrey. Eye trouble, first observed
in 1893, resulted in his retirement in 1904, and in his old age he was
completely blind (Dave Liverman, 1998).
Last Updated: Sunday, 28-Jul-2002 22:56:25 GMT
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